PKB CEO ADIBAH OMAR SHORTLISTED FOR PUBLISHER EXCELLENCE AWARDS 2026

KUALA LUMPUR, March 16 (Bernama) -- Perbadanan Kota Buku (PKB) chief executive officer (CEO) Adibah Omar has become the first figure from the Southeast Asian book industry to be shortlisted as a finalist for the PublisHer Excellence Awards 2026.

PKB said Adibah was shortlisted in the “Innovation” category alongside Monique Leite, founder and director of PlenaVoz from Brazil, and Kinga Jentetics, CEO and co-founder of PublishDrive from the United States.

“This nomination makes Adibah the first individual from the Southeast Asian publishing industry to be shortlisted for the award, reflecting the international community’s growing attention to the development of Malaysia’s book industry,” PKB said in a statement today.

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PKB also said that Adibah’s nomination was an honour for Malaysia and its publishing industry, and expressed hope that it would encourage all industry players to continue strengthening the national book ecosystem.

Meanwhile, Adibah said the recognition is an honour for the collective efforts of many parties involved in developing the country’s book industry ecosystem.

“This nomination does not only represent PKB; but the joint efforts of Malaysia’s book industry players in strengthening the culture of knowledge and expanding access to reading materials,” she said.

She added that the development of Malaysia’s book industry has also been strengthened through various government innovation initiatives, including the MADANI Book Voucher 2024 and the MADANI Teacher Book Voucher 2025 implemented by the government through the Education Ministry, aimed at expanding access to books and promoting a reading culture.

-- BERNAMA